I've been thinking: are the police militarised?

[Alpha]

You must have noticed news recently about the protests surrounding the case of Michael Brown in the United States. Shot to death—fairly or unfairly according to your perspective—by a policeman.

I don't want to get into that debate, really. I've been thinking more about the protests, and how geared up the police seem to get in response to them. I've been thinking about the right to bear arms apparently enshrined in the American Constitution. I remember Sasquatch telling me on these very forums that the intention behind the right to bear arms is essentially two fold: firstly, to have the right to protect one's life and property from the violence and compulsion of others, and secondly for citizens to retain the ability to overthrow a despotic government should one ever arise. That's what's behind those citizen militias I've read about in the past.

But looking at photos of the police equipment used at these protests*, how can that second justification apply any longer? I guess my question is: do you think the police are becoming too militarised where you live? If so, is this justified? If not, why do you not think so?

* That some chose to degenerate into riots... although I've heard suspicion they were agent provocateurs or outsiders who wanted a riot for the sake of it.

Food for thought: Ferguson police: a stark illustration of newly militarised US law enforcement | US news | The Guardian

EDIT: can't seem to delete the accidentally thumbnailed attachments.